In Nigeria, every town or city within a state has its own culture and branded means of transportation. For instance, if you are in Lagos, you’ll most likely use yellow bus (korope), BRT and Molue. In Oyo town it’s either white korope or bike known as Okada. Among all these, Ibadan means of transportation stands out. There are multiple means of transportation in Ibadan from keke Napep, Toyota bus, Micra taxi, Okada to Omituntun Bus. Residents patronizes the one that’s is more comfortable to them with respect to their purse.
In all of these, the one that stand out is the Nissan Micra Taxis painted in red/wine and yellow and their careless and reckless drivers who sometimes act as if they have death wishes.
Another shocking revelation about them is that they hardly wait to fight. In situation where they almost get into an accident, they have less than 5 seconds to play their empathy facial expression before they zoom off to his next near-miss.
Here are some of their everyday phrases to their colleagues and other road users. “Oloshi ni e, se iwo ni kan ni driver t’owa lona ni? Ko ya kuro lona! – You’re a useless person, are you the only driver here? Get off the road!”
“Oloriburuku eleyi, ko ni da fun e l’aye yii! – This unfortunate person, it will never be well with you in this life!”
“Omo ale jati jati, o fe ba mi ja lori ona bi eni ti o mo nkan! – You illegitimate child, you want to fight me on the road as if you know anything!”
“Wèrè ni e! Se iwo nikan ni o wa ni ona yii? – You’re crazy! Are you the only one on this road?”
“Soopo rowo mi ni? – Will you say you don’t see my hand.”
Before you continue your read, if you’re wondering what Micra is, then you must have missed the first sentence. What Molue has come to signify to Lagos – a means of transportation customized for and peculiar to Lagos alone – is what Micra taxi are to Ibadan.
Driving through the city of Ibadan can be both a frustrating and bewildering experience, especially when one witnesses the blatant disregard for traffic lights by the city’s infamous Micra taxi drivers.
Despite the Oyo State government’s efforts to address traffic issues and reduce the rate of accidents by installing traffic lights at key intersections, such as Sango/Leventis road, leading to Bodija and University of Ibadan, as well as along Ojoo road, the chaos persists.
The new lights are a commendable move to reduce traffic congestion and prevent accidents, but they seem to have little to no effect on certain drivers because majority of the Micra taxi drivers and private car owners totally ignore the traffic light at every chance they had got.
Interesting, to ensure oversight seeing, the state government beyond just installing the traffic light has also station some security personnel at these junctions. However, in practice, it is certain that these security personnel are more interested in the tips they receive from the Micra taxi drivers and some private car owners, rather than enforcing the traffic rules.
I ply the Sango/Bodija route every day, and every day I’m reminded of how far we still have to go when it comes to road safety and discipline. One of the things, that do come to my mind is do these drivers knows the work of the traffic light, the purpose of the installation at that exact spot, is there any awareness from both the government and CSO to sensitize them on what each light on the traffic light means.
Just this morning, I had a close call that left my heart racing. While on a bike heading to work, we approached the traffic light at the Sango/Bodija intersection. The light had turned green for us, so the bike rider proceeded as expected. However, out of nowhere, a speeding Micra taxi, driven by an elderly man, zoomed past, ignoring the red light meant to stop him. In a split second, the bike rider swerved to avoid a collision. The scene could have easily resulted in serious injuries, or worse, if not for the quick reflexes of the bike rider.
This experience isn’t isolated; it happens too often. Micra drivers, in their haste to pick up more passengers, or trying to boycott either Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Vehicle Inspector Officers (VIO), Nigeria Police men consistently violate traffic laws. These reckless acts often lead to avoidable accidents and near-misses for other road users. Unfortunately, despite the newly installed lights, many drivers—both commercial and private—seem to believe that traffic rules don’t apply to them. It’s disheartening to think that those lights, which should bring a sense of order and safety, have become more decorative than functional.
Interestingly, my experiences in Lagos have been starkly different. For a city known for its busyness and traffic gridlock, drivers in Lagos seem to have more respect for traffic lights, regardless of the time or congestion. Whether it’s a busy junction or an almost empty road, many Lagos drivers stop and wait patiently for the lights to change. It’s a sharp contrast to Ibadan, where the rules of the road are bent to personal convenience.
The disregard for traffic rules in Ibadan, particularly by Micra taxi drivers, creates an unsafe environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. The state government’s effort to prioritize traffic light projects is commendable, but enforcement remains a major issue. Stationing officers at these intersections is not enough if those same officers are more focused on receiving bribes than enforcing the law.
I strongly urge the Oyo State government to take a digital approach to traffic enforcement. Implementing a system where traffic offenders are fined through digital monitoring systems could be a game-changer. Cameras could be installed at major intersections to catch violators in the act, and fines could be linked to the renewal of vehicle papers or driver’s licenses. This would place the responsibility back on the drivers, making them accountable for their actions on the road.
Ibadan has a long history of being a calm and friendly city, but its roads are becoming increasingly dangerous due to a lack of discipline. A stricter enforcement of traffic laws will not only reduce accidents but also make the roads safer for everyone. Let’s hope the government listens before more lives are put at risk.